Pull-over Golf Shoe

ABSTRACT

A spiked pull-over golf shoe configured to at least partially surround a non-spiked shoe. The pull-over golf shoe can have a sole and a plurality of uppers, with a plurality of spikes coupled with the outsole side of the sole. A wearer can insert a regular shoe that does not have spikes into the pull-over golf shoe to gain extra traction provided by the spikes of the pull-over golf shoe.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This Application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) from earlier filed U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/020,880, filed Jul. 3, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to golf footwear, particularly spiked golf footwear configured to fit over other shoes.

2. Background

Many golfers prefer to wear spiked golf shoes to provide traction when walking around a golf course or when swinging a golf club. Additionally, some golf courses require spiked shoes, and/or ban other types of shoes such as dress shoes.

However, as spiked shoes are not commonly worn in other situations, golfers generally wear other shoes while traveling to a golf course and then change into spiked golf shoes when they reach the golf course. Bringing along a separate pair of shoes specifically for golfing can be cumbersome and/or inconvenient. For instance, individuals who are travelling often do not have room in their bags or suitcases to bring a separate pair of golf shoes in addition to their other shoes.

Further, most golf courses do not rent spiked shoes. Golfers who did have room to bring their own pair of spiked shoes can be thus prevented from playing with their preferred footwear, or even be prevented from playing entirely if the golf course requires spiked shoes.

What are needed are pull-over golf shoes that can fit over and/or wrap around a golfer's other shoes. Such pull-over golf shoes can comprise spikes to provide a golfer with the traction of spiked golf shoes. The pull-over golf shoes can be flexible and/or compressible, such that they can be fit into suitcases or bags without taking up as much space as conventional golf shoes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A depicts a side view of an embodiment of a pull-over golf shoe.

FIG. 1B depicts a top view of an embodiment of a pull-over golf shoe.

FIG. 1C depicts a bottom view of an embodiment of a pull-over golf shoe.

FIG. 2A depicts an example of compressing a pull-over golf shoe.

FIG. 2B depicts an example of rolling a pull-over golf shoe.

FIG. 3 depicts a shoe inserted into an embodiment of a pull-over golf shoe.

FIG. 4A depicts an angled view of an embodiment of a pull-over golf shoe with a planar upper above a front portion of its sole.

FIG. 4B depicts a side view of an embodiment of a pull-over golf shoe with a planar upper above a front portion of its sole.

FIG. 5 depicts a top view of an embodiment of a pull-over golf shoe comprising a tightening mechanism.

FIG. 6 depicts a side view of an embodiment of a pull-over golf shoe comprising straps.

FIG. 7 depicts an angled view of the underside of a pull-over golf shoe.

FIGS. 8A and 8B depict bottom and side views of a first embodiment of a spike.

FIGS. 9A and 9B depict bottom and side views of a second embodiment of a spike.

FIGS. 10A and 10B depict bottom and side views of a third embodiment of a spike.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C respectively depict a side, top, and bottom view of an embodiment of a pull-over golf shoe 100. A pull-over golf shoe 100 can comprise a sole 102, one or more uppers 104, and a plurality of spikes 106 coupled with the sole 102. The sole 102 and uppers 104 can be formed to partially surround an interior space 108. The sole 102 and uppers 104 can be shaped and sized such that a separate shoe, such as a dress shoe or tennis shoe, can be at least partially inserted into the interior space 108 and be held in place within the pull-over golf shoe 100 against the sole 102 by the uppers 104.

In some embodiments, the sole 102 and/or one or more uppers 104 can comprise flexible and/or compressible materials that allow a user to selectively deform the sole 102 and/or uppers 104, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. By way of a non-limiting example, a user can choose to flatten, roll up, and/or fold the sole 102 and/or uppers 104 when packing the pull-over golf shoe 100 into a suitcase. In some embodiments, the pull-over golf shoe 100 can comprise one or more snaps, straps, ties, or other devices configured to selectively retain the pull-over golf shoe 100 in a folded or rolled-up configuration. In other embodiments such retention devices can be absent.

In some embodiments, the sole 102 and/or uppers 104 can comprise foam resin. In other embodiments, the sole 102 and/or uppers 104 can comprise rubber, silicone rubber, elastomeric material, fabric, mesh, plastic, leather, and/or any other flexible and/or compressible material or combination of materials. In some embodiments the sole 102 and the uppers 104 can be formed together from a single piece of material. In other embodiments the sole 102 can be coupled with the uppers 104, and/or some uppers 104 can be coupled with other uppers 104 with stitching, adhesives, fusing, bolts, and/or any other connection method.

In some embodiments the sole 102 and uppers 104 can have the same degree of flexibility. In other embodiments the sole 102 and one or more uppers 104 can have different degrees of flexibility, and/or some uppers 104 can have different degrees of flexibility than other uppers 104. By way of non-limiting examples, in some embodiments the sole 102 can be more rigid than the uppers 104, and/or uppers 104 positioned on the sides of the pull-over golf shoe 100 can be more rigid than uppers 104 proximate to the top of the pull-over golf shoe 100.

The sole 102 can be a panel with an insole side 110 and an outsole side 112. The insole side 110 can face the interior space 108. In some embodiments the insole side 110 can be formed with ridges, indentations, and/or contours such that the insole side 110 fits into the contours of an inserted shoe's heel and/or outsole. By way of a non-limiting example, the insole side 110 can be formed with depressions or indentations configured to accept the protruding heel of a dress shoe, such as a heel section protruding from the rest of an Oxford dress shoe's outsole, and be formed with a ridge configured to fit into the indentation in a dress shoe's outsole in front of its heel. In other embodiments the insole side 110 can be flexible and/or compressible, such that it can deform to match the contours of an inserted shoe's outsole. In still other embodiments, the insole side 110 can be planar.

In some embodiments, the sole's outsole side 112 can be textured and/or have treads, grooves, indentations, slip-resistant patterns, ridges or contours, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1C. In other embodiments the outsole side 112 can be substantially smooth.

In some embodiments, the uppers 104 can be panels positioned to cover lower portions of an inserted shoe, such as portions of an inserted shoe's heel counter, quarter, vamp, and/or toe box, as shown in FIG. 3. The uppers 104 can define an opening 114 through which a shoe can be inserted into the interior space 108. In some embodiments or situations, insertion of a shoe into the interior space 108 can cause the uppers 104 to flex and deform to accommodate the shape of the inserted shoe, after which the uppers 104 can contract to hold in the shoe against the sole 102.

In some embodiments, one or more uppers 104 can be planar in a non-deformed resting state. A planar upper 104 can be stretched and/or deformed by elements of a shoe that are pressed against it when the shoe is inserted into the interior space 108, such that the planar upper's resistance to such stretching or deformation can assist in pressing the shoe inward and holding the shoe within the pull-over golf shoe 100. By way of a non-limiting example, FIGS. 4A and 4B depicts angled and side views of an embodiment of a pull-over golf shoe 100 having curved uppers 104 a extending from edges of the sole 102 and a planar upper 104 b coupled with the curved uppers 104 a proximate to the top front end of the pull-over golf shoe 100. In some embodiments, a planar upper 104 b can be angled downward toward the front tip of the pull-over golf shoe 100, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. In the embodiment of FIGS. 4A and 4B, when a shoe is inserted into the pull-over golf shoe 100, the insertion of the shoe can press the shoe's non-planar toe box and/or vamp against the planar upper 104 b and deform it outward. The planar upper 104 b can be flexible, but can have resistance to such deformation such that it contracts and presses against the inserted shoe to assist in holding the inserted shoe within the pull-over golf shoe 100.

In some embodiments, the dimensions of the interior space 108 and/or the perimeter edges of the opening 114 can be adjusted by a user to tighten the pull-over golf shoe 100 around an inserted shoe in addition to, or as an alternative to, inward forces provided by the sole 102 and/or uppers 104. By way of a non-limiting example, in some embodiments tightening mechanisms 500 can be coupled with one or more uppers 104 and/or the sole 102. In some embodiments tightening mechanisms 500 can be laces, as shown in FIG. 5. In other embodiments, tightening mechanisms 500 can be straps, ties, buckles, zippers, hook and loop fasteners, and/or any other tightening mechanism. In still other embodiments, tightening mechanisms 500 can be absent.

In alternate embodiments, the uppers 104 can be straps and/or laces positioned to loop over lower portions of an inserted shoe, such as portions of its heel counter, quarter, vamp, and/or toe box. By way of a non-limiting example, FIG. 6 depicts a side view of an alternate embodiment of a pull-over golf shoe 100 in which the uppers 104 are a plurality of straps coupled with the sole 102. In some of these embodiments, the straps can be elastomeric, such that they can stretch and/or expand around portions of an inserted shoe. In some embodiments the length of the straps can be adjustable, and/or have tightening mechanisms 500.

FIG. 7 depicts an angled view of the underside of an embodiment of a pull-over golf shoe 100. A plurality of spikes 106 can be coupled with the outsole side 112 of a pull-over golf shoe's sole 102. In some embodiments the spikes 106 can comprise polyurethane. In other embodiments the spikes 106 can comprise metal, plastic or any other polymer, or any other desired material or combination of materials. In some embodiments, the spikes 106 can be rigid, while in other embodiments the spikes 106 can be at least partially flexible.

In some embodiments, the spikes 106 can be separate elements permanently coupled with the sole 102. In other embodiments the spikes 106 can be extensions of the sole 102 protruding out of its outsole side 112. In alternate embodiments, the spikes 106 can be selectively removable from the sole 102, such that the spikes 106 can be removed, replaced, and/or exchanged with different types of spikes 106. By way of non-limiting examples, in some embodiments spikes 106 can be selectively coupled with the outsole side 112 via thread or twist locks.

In some embodiments the spikes 106 can be shaped with a plurality of prongs 116 configured to at least partially dig into the turf of a golf course to provide a wearer of the pull-over golf shoe 100 with greater traction than a non-spiked shoe. The spikes 106 and/or its prongs 116 can have any desired shape or configuration, with any desired number of prongs 116, such as one, two, three, four five, six, seven, eight, or any other number of prongs 116 arranged in any pattern. By way of a non-limiting example, FIGS. 8A and 8B depict a bottom and side view of a first embodiment of a spike 106, in which four prongs 116 extend substantially in a cross formation outward from a central position. By way of another non-limiting example, FIGS. 9A and 9B depict a bottom and side view of a second embodiment of a spike 106, in which four prongs 116 extend out of a central position at an angle. By way of yet another non-limiting example, FIGS. 10A and 10B depict a bottom and side view of a second embodiment of a spike 106, in which the spike 106 comprises a base disc and the prongs 116 are cleats extending out of the base disc.

Any desired number of spikes 106 can be coupled with the outsole side 112 of the sole 102. By way of a non-limiting example, in some embodiments three spikes 106 can be coupled with the front half of the outsole side 112 and two spikes 106 can be coupled with the heel portion of the outsole side 112, as shown in FIG. 7. In other embodiments, any number of spikes 106 can be coupled with the outsole side 112 in any desired arrangement of positions. By way of non-limiting examples, spikes 106 can be arranged in line with one another, be offset from one another, be arranged in concentric circles, arcs, or any other pattern, or have any other desired arrangement.

In use, a user can slide a shoe into the interior space 108 of the pull-over golf shoe 100, as shown in FIG. 3, such that the pull-over golf shoe 100 surrounds at least the lower portion of the shoe and the plurality of spikes 106 are positioned below the inserted shoe's sole. As discussed above, the inserted shoe can be a dress shoe, athletic shoe, or any other non-spiked shoe that lacks spikes. By way of a non-limiting example, the inserted shoe can be an Oxford shoe commonly worn by a businessperson. The uppers 104 and/or tightening mechanisms 500 can assist in retaining the pull-over golf shoe 100 around the inserted shoe as a wearer of both the inserted shoe and the surrounding pull-over golf shoe 100 proceeds with an activity, such as playing a round of golf. A user can wear a pair of pull-over golf shoes 100 over a pair of other shoes, one on each foot.

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention as described and hereinafter claimed is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A pull-over golf shoe, comprising: a sole having an outsole side and an insole side; one or more uppers coupled with said sole, such that said sole and said one or more uppers at least partially define an interior space; and a plurality of spikes coupled with said outsole side, wherein said sole and said one or more uppers are flexible and selectively collapsible into a smaller form, and wherein at least one of said one or more uppers is stretchable to accommodate a shoe inserted into said interior space, such that said one or more uppers hold the shoe inside said interior space against said insole side of said sole.
 2. The pull-over golf shoe of claim 1, wherein at least one of said on or more uppers is a planar upper that is positioned such that insertion of a shoe into said interior space stretches said planar upper away from a planar resting shape and said planar upper's resistance to stretching applies pressure against the inserted shoe.
 3. The pull-over golf shoe of claim 2, wherein said planar upper is positioned above a front portion of said sole.
 4. The pull-over golf shoe of claim 3, wherein said planar upper is coupled with one or more curved uppers that are coupled with edges of said sole.
 5. The pull-over golf shoe of claim 2, wherein said planar upper is angled downward from an opening into said interior space toward a front tip of said sole.
 6. The pull-over golf shoe of claim 1, wherein said insole side is contoured to substantially match the shape of an outsole of a dress shoe, with an indentation shaped to accept a heel protruding from the dress shoe's outsole and a ridge shaped to fit in front of the dress shoe's heel.
 7. The pull-over golf shoe of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of spikes has four prongs arranged substantially in a cross configuration extending linearly outward from a central position.
 8. The pull-over golf shoe of claim 1, wherein said plurality of spikes is arranged on said outsole side with two spikes on a rear portion of said outsole side and three spikes on a forward portion of said outsole side. 